Bruised City face big test
Likely R28-million and R4-million Soccer 13 and 10 pools respectively are mustplay bets for soccer fans on a weekend when EPL log-leaders Manchester City need to hold their nerve after a numbing midweek defeat to Real Madrid.
Amega R28-million Soccer 13 carryover pool and a likely R4million Soccer 10 pool have ratcheted up the excitement around tomorrow's crucial Premier League and PSL matches.
They are just two of 10 TAB soccer pools from today through Sunday that start with carryovers or cash add-ins and there are prospects of upsets and resultant life-changing payouts.
Manchester City have just four more league matches to win and thus make it impossible for Liverpool to overtake them in the EPL.
After enjoying a comfortable lead, City threw the race open when they lost at home to Spurs in February and less than month later were held to a goalless draw at Crystal Palace.
Since then the defending champions have won four of their last five games with the 2-2 draw against Liverpool last month being the only blot on their copybook until the disastrous midweek collapse against Real Madrid in Champions League.
City host Newcastle United on Sunday and should be a banker bet to win if they can get over the psychological fallout from Real Madrid.
If they can, they should then go on to win away at Wolves (11 May) and West Ham (15 May), and at home to Aston Villa on 22 May in their last game of the season.
Liverpool will go all out to maintain the pressure on City. Their come-from-behind win against Villarreal in Champions League on Tuesday was emblematic of their ability to dig deep and win, but also of their ability to almost throw it away.
The game in Spain marked a sixth win on the trot for Jurgen Klopp's men and it means they will play every possible game they can this season, having won the League Cup and reached the finals of the FA Cup and Champions League.
They play tomorrow against Spurs, who must win to keep their chances of a Champions League berth alive. Spurs' players have been offered a major bonus if they do, but Anfield is a tough place for any side to get a victory. Liverpool's only home loss this season was to Inter Milan in a Champions League tie in which they fielded fringe players because they had already won the first leg in Italy.
Liverpool last lost a league game at home the season before last (to Fulham).
At the other end of the table, Watford will likely have their relegation confirmed this weekend as Burnley, Leeds United and Everton battle it out to avoid the last relegation berth.
Leeds and Everton have tough away games, but Burnley can give their cause a major boost by beating Aston Villa at home.